davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06

column. Thus McClcllan's army on the north
bank Of the chickahominy would be involved
front and rear, and could be cut TO pieces.
But for the first time In his life Stonewall
jackson was late. The two Hills and Long
street carried out their part Of the pro
gramme, attacking the Federal front as IL
faced south on the Chickahominy. Their
work was with the Federal left, JaclSson's
with the right
A. p. Hills advance had driven the Union
pickets back TO the main line at Ellison's
Mill. There was time enough for the Federals
to form in battle line Hill and Longstreet
advanced in the teeth OF tremendous fire Of
musketry and artillery from the heights
around Eilison's Mill The firing came from
Gen. Seymour, who held the left. The Con-
federates had hoped to turn the Union flank
and cut the left to pieces. In the midst OF
deadly fire they were hurled back, and the
movement failed, and so the battle of Me-
Gainesville ended It had lasted from o
o'clock In the afternoon till 0. McCall's men
were in the bloodiest oftthe contest. The Con-
federates lost between 5000 and 1000, the
Federals about 400.
Next morning Mcclellan resolved to retreat
south and take up a position ON the James. He
found for certain that Jackson was in his vicin-
ity with large force, and had only been de
tanned by some Federal skirmishers at Tolo-
potomy creek, north of Mechanicsville.
Here some military critics declare Mcclellan
made another mistake The Confederates had
left Richmond protected only by $4,000 men
-Hugers and Magruder's divisions--on the
9th. After the Federal victory at Mechanics
vile II Mcclellan had unexpectedly and Wig
orously attacked Richmond, he could have
cut Lees army in two. Magruder, indeed, ex-
pected It, He wrote II his report: 81 passed
the night without sleep. Had Mcclellan
massed his whole force in column, and adj
vanccd it against any point of our line of bat
| tie, as was done at Austerlitz under similar
circumstances by the greatest captain of any
age, the occupation Of our works
about Richmond, and consequently the city,
might have been his rewards
But Mcclellan did not do it. He began tc
retreat to the James.
The second baltic of the seven days figbr
ing was that at Gaines Mill, or Cold Harbsr,
June 81.
Mcclellan made ready for his right wing
to cross the Chickahominy. During the night
of the Goth the heavy guns and wagons were
sent across to the south bank. Porter's corps
the Fifth, was drawn up at Gaines Mills, q
position several miles south of Mechanics
vile. This place was between Cold Harboi
and the Chickahominy.
The Confederates had not retreated. An
ether attack was to be made on Fitz John
Porter's corps, north of the Chickahominy
next day.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06
) ranged in a semicircle

the Fifth Federal FITz JOHN PORTER $3.50.
corps ON the north side of the Chickahominy,
There were $4,000 Union troops, while the
Confederatcs, with the re-enforcements con-
stantly coming up, numbered not less than
$4,000.
The Federal troops engaged were Sykes
and Morelps divisions Of three brigades EACH
The fight of the 9th is also sometimes called
the battle of Cold Harbor.
A. p. Hill made an attack and then with
drew somewhat He kept up half fight for
two hours, waiting for Longstreet and Jack
son. About o'clock Stonewall Jackson ar
rived, and at once engaged in battle with all
his force. The Confederate forces in the
fight at Gaines Mills were the divisions of
the two Hills, Longstreet, Branch, Ewell and
Whiting. The battle roared and Numbered
from 2 o'clock till after sunset. Hero was
some Of the bloodiest fighting of tho war
Mems lives were no more than flash of
powder
Desperate efforts were made to break Por-
ter's line Regiment after regiment Of Con
federates We're rolled against it and recoiled
under the deadly fire that met Them Yet
Others came, as though they sprang from the
ground. Ewell, from D. H. Hills left, led
one advance. AS he came upon the ground
his men met two regiments beaten backward
and flying.
"Were whipped, you can't do anything;
they shouted to Ewells men,"
sect out of the way, Wen show you," an
swered the new corners.
But even they could not break the line.
They were hard pressed, when suddenly 1900
Georgians, under Lawton, rolled up to their
| aid. "Hurrah for Georgia. shouted Ewell's
men,
Meantime, on the south side Of the Chicka-
hominy, in the Federal camps, a scene was
passing which nobody afterward felt proud
Of. Richmond was largely emptied of troops.
Across the Chickahominy, within call, were
tho corps of Franklin, Summer, Reyes,
Heintzelman. Porter, hard pressed, sent to
his commander for re-enforements. McClel-
Ian, thinking he had a great force in front of
him, only sent one division, Slocum's, of
Franklin's corps.
Magruder was practicing his Yorktown
, trick Of making q great noise and show
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06

According to his usual luck, the general was
absent when the battle Of Malvern Hill began.
With the changed front, Porter's corps was
on the left. Skirted In an oval around Nal.
vern Hill were the other Federal troops: Couch's
division on the right of Porter, next Kearney and
Hooker, next Sedgwick and Richardson. next
Smith and Slocum then the remainder OF Keyes'
corps. Gen. Mcclellan himself had ordered this
disposition of troops.
The Confederates were in close pursuit. At
O'Clock their advance was seen. They were ranged
In this order: Magruder and Huger on the Con.
federate right, while circling after them to the
left were jackson, Ewell, Whiting and D. II.
Hill. Longstreet and A. p Hin were in the rear.
too weary to fight
The Confederates had been ordered by Gen.
Lee to charge with yell" II the Federal line
was broken. Next, they were 10 advance with
fixed bayonets and drive the invaders into the
James" But the shouting did not come of.
Gen. Armistead, who was to carry out this part
Of the programme, advanced to q point where he
could not come on or go back, and his troops lay
down upon the ground to escape the artillery fire.
The first attack was made upon Porter and
Couch Morell's division Of Porter's corps and
COUGHS division OF Reyes bore the brunt Of the
battle.
The Confederate plan was 10 take Malvern Hill
by assault. But tier after tier OF Union artillery
rose above the heads Of the Confederates and
poured deadly fire into them. Tho Federal gum
boats In the river aided the artillery 10 the hills,
and the Confederates were driven back with
slaughter and confusion. Three desperate as
saults were made UPON the hills In vain. with
the darkness the broken Confederates drew or
and gave UP the fight. The day was decided by
the tiers of Federal artillery among the hills.
Once more, July 2 Mcclellans generals be-
lleved that he could have advanced and taken
Richmond. But be did nok On the contrary he
moved all his army TO Harrison's landing, three
miles down, aud wrote 70 Washington for reen-
fprcements OF the $4,000 men which had posi-
lively been furnished him DO reported that ia
had only 5000 lafl
or Lees 0O.7os men, he lost n killed and
wounded during the seven days fighting lnclud-
ing Malvern Hin, is,sO0. Ths fighting through
our was awful and bloody, without decisive resnit
on either sidc. Six weeks Of inactlon followed
OF the leading generals who took part in this tef-
ribs campaign few ere leu. Tho Army and
Navy Journal keeps record Of them. Sumner
disd during the war. Heintzelmap died recently
IN Washington. retired arrrf ofAoer. Gen Nc
CAL stu lives engaged IN civil pursuits, IN Penn
syiyania Gen. Keyes Is also living engaged 10
civil pursuits. too. Gen. Couch, AZ the age Of g.
resides IN Hartford Com
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06

that fated Goth Of June was at Willis
church, near Glendale 1t was a sharp
skirmish with Confederate cavalry on the
Quaker road, by which Mcclellan was re-
treating. With the great number OF Con-
federates drawing nearer and nearer to his
right, and Jackson's men after him in the
rear, this retreat of Mcclellan to the James
was no child's play
June 80 Mcclellan had reached his new
headquarters at Malvern hill, near the
James. But the army of the Potomac had
by no means arrived there. 1t had yet more
fighting before it ere it rested on the James
In this bloody retreat fighting enough was
done and lives enough were sacrificed to have
taken Richmond many times over if the Fed
eral generals had only known how to do 1t.
Three roads leading out from Richmond
intercept the Quaker road by which McClel
Ian retreated When Reyes began his retreat
he fortunately discovered an old road run
ming parallel with the Quaker road. He
struck that, and by hurrying his men along
it, reached Malvern Hill speedily. A double
line of troops was thus also formed against
the Confederates The two routes appear OF
tho map.
There was a constant danger OF attack by
the Confederates along the cross roads, al
ready mentioned, leading from Richmond
namely, the Charles City, Central and New
market roads AS soon as Lee discovered
the line of McClellan's retreat he ordered
Hill and Longstreet to recross to the soutl
side of the Chickahominy and follow soutl
and intercept the Federals The Central roac
runs into Long Bridge road, and that crosses
the Quaker road. At the intersection of the
Long Bridge and Quaker roads Hill ant
Longstieet found part of the Federal forces
A mile further on, at the junction Of thu
Newmarket and Quaker roads, McCalls divi
sion was posted
Then took place the sixth contest Of the
seven days fighting the battle of Glendale
sometimes called also the battle of Nelson's
Farm--Monday, June 80. 1t Is called, too
the battle OF Fra1ers Farm.
In all tho stubborn fighting Of the Penin
sula the absence Of the commanding genera
from so many of the severest fights Is matter
of note While his corps commanders, ant
in some cases division and brigade generals
were bearing the brunt of battle without &
leader as best they might, Mcclellan was APP
TO be off somewhere else, experimenting thu
throwing up Of intrenchments or the selection
of headquarters or doing engineers work. Il
was unfortunate for his fame as a military
commander.
On the perilous retreat to the James h'
went ahead, to Malvern Hill, to James rive
AMI the gunboats. During the bloody fght
at Glendale the general in chief knew nothing
About 1t till late at night. He had been par
It the day at his headquarters at Malvern
Hill and part of the time upon gunboat.
In the battle at Glendale Gen. Philip Kearney
DISTINGUISHED himself. He was one Of the mos
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06

Clellan desired re- GEN. W. n. FRANKLIN.
endorsements. For the third time it was
promised that Mcdowell should join him. A
second time "Stonewalln jackson prevented
this by making feint in northern Virginia.
Mcclellan believed that Mcdowell did not
wish to join him as subordinate, and was
irr.tated thereat. He wrote Secretary Stan
ton st ought to be distinctly understood
that Mcdowell and his troops are completely
under my control"
There never was good understanding be-
tween the commanding general and his SUI
periors at Washington Time passed on,
With storm and rain, the commanding gen.
ana SxesTatins Tho weather, the authorities
at Washington and Gen. Mcdowell, the sol
diers in the meantime standing waist deep In
mud and water building bridges and esfth-
works.
juno IL, the famous Confederate cavalry
commander, J. E. b. Stuart, made brilliant
mia. circling quite around the army OF the
Potomac. fIe dashed oven into their base OF
,~n,lies at White House, on the Pamunkey,
mi carried off o large number Of horses and
prisoners. It gave tho Federal authorities an
,,,rorn sor.able shaking up In their minds
June %. Mcclellan mnde move forward
A seven Pines There was q small hsht at
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06
still jackson was held back whole day and
evening by the Federals
1szs stiii, is the story told

still jackson was held back whole day ana
evening by the Federals
a.. stiii, Is the story told
How well Horatius kept the bridge
In tho bravo days Of old,
During the night the Federal forces dropped
southwark, still heading toward Malvern
Hill.
The same day, in the afternoon, tho hot
fight at Glendale came off. At Willis church,
near tho village, McCaiTs division was posted.
II had suffered frightfully at Mechanicsviile
and Gaines Mill, having boon reduced from
10000 TO 6,0O0; but 1t was here again, fighting
In the thichest Of the battle at Glendale.
Kearney's division was at the right OF Mccall,
as they faced southwark. Summers corps
was 20 the left Of Mccall, with Hooler's
division ON Summers left. Hooker and Kear-
ney belonged TO Heintzelman's corps.
Longstreet had hoped to gain the intersec-
ton of tho Long Bridge road before the Fed
erals could pass II. But he was too late.
Keyes' and Porter's corps had already paysed.
Heintzelman's and Summers men were at
Glendale, with only Franklin In the rear at
White Oak bridge.
Longstreet, finding so many Federnls at
Glendale, was obliged TO wait till Magruder
came up. Gen. Lee and Jefferson Davis were
with Longstreet, waiting to see the battle
Gen. Couch took prominent part In tho
first battle Of Malvern Hill, which closed the
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06

and his line OF sup GEN A. P. HILL
plies. He therefore prepared to strike Nc
Clelian at White House, ON the Pamunkey.
He sent Ewell and Stuart to that point to
sefze the railway and war supplies. They
were day too late. The stores had been
mostly removed, and such as could not be
carried away were destroyed The White
House itself had been burnt. The night of
the 2Sth of June, it suddenly dawned on Lee
that Mcclellan had changed his base, and
was in retreat to the James, with the inten-
ion of drawing supplies by that way. He
determined to send his army in pursuit at
once.
Then came the next battles in this ghastly
serial-the fights Of Aliens Farm and Savage
Station and the affair at Willis church, all
June 20.
With all haste Mcclellan had retreated to-
ward the James. He gave orders that all
supplies which could not be quickly conveyed
should be destroyed Says Gen. Webb, in
the Peninsula Campaign" "Lines of fire
marked the camps and depots of the Union
troops. Millions Of rations. hundreds of tons
Of fixed ammunition and shells for the siege
guns wore thus LOST
June 20 McClellan's headquarters were re-
moved from Savage station to the James
river side of White Oak swamp. The line of
retreat can be seen on the map of the seven
days battle ground. The same day Sumner
abandoned Fair Oaks and also dropped south
ward, to Orchard station. BY following the
lire of march on the map the reader will sec
that their moves were in o direction away
from Richmond.
90 h n p,., r.
:he old boys of the army Of the Potomac, who
imps about with bullet wound in his leg,
got in the seven days' battle. "We used to
fight all day and march all night"
So desperately bent on reaching the
James was Mcclellan that he left his sick
and wounded who could not be moved be-
hind him in hospital at Savage station,
where they would inevitably be taken by the
Confederates.
Sumner and Heintzelmans corps were at
Aliens farm, near Orchard station, on the
morning Of June 90. That morning Lees
army started in pursuit of the retreating
Fe1erals. Huger and Magruder started out,
Magruder by the Williamsburg road, which
led eastward to Savage station, Huger by
the Charles City road, which led southeast
ward to Glendale. These and Longstreet and
A. 2. Hill were to attack on the right, while
Jackson was to cross the Chickahominy in
the rear Of tho Federals and pursue from the
north.
Mcclellan, in arranging his retreat, had
ordered Reyes to go forward first and take
position on Malvern Hill, near the James.
Porter and Franklin were to follow, and SO,
watching the rear and the right, they were
to push on to the James. This was the
morning Of the Goth. Mcclellan himself had
already ridden on toward the James, to Sc
lect suitable position. The heaviest supplies
were already well on the way Among them
was drove of $500 beef cattle, which were
got off in safety.
lGen James I.ongstreet was South Carollnian,
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06

them could only cover their retreat and stop
the Confederate pursuit.
twas Hoods and McLaw's Texan brigades,
of Writings division, that at last broke Fitz
John PorEer's line. The regular and zouave
regiments did not break.
In the fight Of Gaines MIL two regiments,
one OF New Jersey, the other OF Pennsylvania,
were surrounded and taken prisoners. With
them was Brig. Gen. Reynolds.
Under the protection Of Meagher's and
Frenchs brigades Porter's whole corps, what
was left Of IL, reiterated to the south bank of
the ChiclSahominy. Some Of his artillery
was leit behind.
Thus one corps and division OF McClel-
lan's army was made to fight more than two
thirds Of the whole Confederate army around
Richmond. In this bloody battle Porter's
corps lost O,0O0 men, killed, wounded and
prisoners the Confederatos, $780,
Morning found Fitz John Porter's corps
across The river, and the bridges destroyed
behindit Stoneman's and Emorys cavalry,
cut of from the rest Of the corps, escaped by
the way OF White House and Yorktown, and
went down the York river and up the James
and Dejoined the army Of the Potomac.
During the Peninsula campaign the French
princes, the Due de Chartresand the Comte
de Paris, received a thorough experience Of
American warfare. They served as aides on
McClellan's staff, with the rank of captain,
from September, 1861 to the close OF the
seven days fighting. They were the grand
sons of King Louis Philippe, and were the
same two princes that have been recently ex-
lied by the French government. With their
uncle, the Prince dc Joinville, they followed
the fortunes Of the army of the Potomac.
They were brave, dashing young fellows
then, full of fun and merriment. They kept
up their own establishment, with their uncle,
who was worry deaf. Some Of McClelan's
happiest hours were passed in their tent, in
those weary days.
At midnight after the disaster At Gaine,
Mill Mcclellan sat in his tent and wrote IL
Secretary Stanton a dispatch, the like Of
which was never sent by soldier to his yu-
periors before; "lf save this army now,
tell you plainly that owe no thanks to you
or to any other persons in Washington You
have done your best to sacrifice this army.
Then he announced to his officers his intention
| to begin his march south to the James Al
| daybreak he was at Savage station, on tht
York and Richmond railroad, breaking camp
and preparing for the journey to the James
By noon that day, June 2s, Keyes' division
had crossed White Oak swamp and taken pc
sition on the other side of it to guard the pas
sage of ammunition and provision trains
Summers, Heintzelmans and part of Frank
Inns corps were to remain on the Richmond
side of White Oak swamp, to cover the move
ment of retreat 1t twas well planned.
There was a slight action ON the morning
| Of the 18th. A heavy Confederate artillery
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06
THE BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.

This battle properly closes the terrific seven
days fighting.
AS the troops came In they were posted In
strong positions about Malvern Hin by Gen. Bar
nard, chief engineer. They changed front and
were faced toward Richmond.
1t was finally settled, however, that the perma-
nent camp was not to be at Malvern Hill, but at
Harrison's landing, on the river, where supplies
could be better obtained and where the army
could be under the protection OF tine gunboats.
Gen. Mcclellan went on board the Galena to con-
suit with Commodore Rodgers about the supplies.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06

Mcclellan and Lee had each fixed on June
GO as day for attacking the other. Nc
Clellan meant to storm Richmond and take it
by assault Lee intended to attack Mcclellan
and raise the siege of Richmond. But Nc
Clellan was behind Lee in moving, and
the Confederates got in their attack
first. Then Mcclellan dismissed his plan of
taking Richmond for the time, and made
preparations for secure retreat to the James,
which was now in possession of the Federals
from its mouth nearly to the Confederate
capital
The first battle of the seven days fighting
was that Of Mechanicsville, June &c. A
slight skirrnish had taken place June 25
Porter's corps was stationed around and to
the east of Mechanicsville Near here was
Beaver Dam creek, with Ellison's Mill upon
1t. McCalrs Pennsy.vanians were stationed
on the rising ground near Ellison's MID, COM
manding the creek. To the right, left and
rear of Mccall were Gems. Reynolds. Martin
dale, Griffin, Meade and Seymour, with their
commands. The troops were ranged half
moon shape on Beaver Dam creek. Mechan-
icsville bridge crossed the Chickahominy.
St0newall Jackson and his men were TO be
in the rear of Mechanicsville on the morning
Of the 2Gth. Branch's Confederate brigade
was to cross the Chickahominy up near Rich
mond, move rapidly down the river road and
clear Meadow bridge of its Union guard, and
then strike eastward, join Stonewall jackson,
and make an attack on the Federal rear cast
Of MechanicsviIIe. Meadow bridge crossed
the Chickahominy north OF the one at
Mechanicsville
As soon as Meadow bridge was cleared Of
Federals A. P. Hill was to cross 1t rapidly,
push still further south and then take the
road TO Mechanicsville. That movement
would leave The Mechanicsville bridge clear.
Longstreet and D. II. Hin were to cross u,
march hastily on end join tie attacking
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06

at Gaines Mills,
facing the bridges
by which they
were to cross to the
south side of the
Chic k a h o miny,
The guns which
had alreadycrossed
had been planted
on the other side
to face the bridges
At Q o'clock In
h 9 aft ernoon,
June q, A. P. Hill
once more attacked
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-06


in the Mexican war, and los. an nrm while gal
lantly leading charge. July 2 1862 at the close
Of McClellan's Peninsula campaign, he was pro.
NOTED to q major generalship for gallantry. He
did not long live TO enjoy his new honor, however
He was killed at Chantilly, Va, Sept !, two
months later.
There was fighting all along the line that
bloody Monday, June 80 Back at White Oak
Swamp bridge, on is south side, Gems Smith,
Richardson and Maggie were posted with their
commands and Ayres' and Hazards bat
tories They had crossed White Oak Swamp
bridge and destroyed II behind them Jack
son came up In hot pursuit, and there was
desperate fighting. Hazard was morally
vounasd and bis battery cut 10 pieces, bai